Women's Six Nations 2025 preview: Scotland

Scotland team in huddle. Photo: the Murrayfield Experience website.

Scotland have recently celebrated thirty years since women’s rugby was formally recognised in 1993. As well as this, their participation levels have nearly trebled over the past decade from 2,680 to 6,173.

It is no understatement to say that the game has grown rapidly in Scotland, but is their team ready to take Six Nations Victory?

Team History

The women’s rugby team for Scotland played their first official test match against Ireland back in 1993 at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh.

After winning that match a stream of success followed with them winning the Home Nations Championship in 1998 with an 8-5 win over England, landing them the significant achievement of the Grand Slam.

Since then, Scotland has competed in the 1994,1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup, even standing in as alternate hosts for it in 1994.

Until 2009, women’s rugby was governed by a different body to the men’s in Scotland, called the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (SWRU).

However, they voted unanimously in favour of combining this with the Scottish Rugby Union to form an integrated body for rugby in Scotland.

The Team

Bryan Easson, the head coach for Scotland Women, announced an extended training squad of 34 players in preparation for the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. This includes talented players like Evie Wills, Aila Ronald, Rachel Philipps and Hannah Walker.

Evie Wills,  a player who has three caps  for Scotland, was chosen for the team after recovering from an ACL injury which took her out from the 2023/24 season last year.

The Leicester Tigers player began playing when she was just 7 years old and has previously featured in both the Scotland 7s Under 18s and their full senior team. She has also played for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and the 2022 Women’s World Cup.

Rachel Philipps is also capped for Scotland and is rejoining the squad after competing in the WXV2 in South Africa last year in October.

However, the majority of Scotland’s squad is uncapped, though they do play for respected Premiership Women’s Rugby sides.

For example, Hollie Cunningham and Meg Varley are both playing from the Bristol Bears, the team that embraced the arrival of Ilona Maher this season, and Becky Boyd who usually plays for Loughborough Lightning.

Fixtures

Scotland kick off their Six Nations battle in their home stadium, the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh. Here they play Wales on Saturday 22nd March at quarter to five.

They then play Italy, again on their home turf, on the 13th April at 3pm and Ireland on the 26th April at half past two.

Tickets to these games are available through the Scotland Rugby website, and all games in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations in the UK will be available to watch on the BBC and BBC iPlayer.